Newly renamed river trail open for skating season

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This article was published 03/01/2022 (1044 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Forks river skating trail has a new name.

The annual free attraction on the Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg is now known as the Nestaweya River Trail — a tribute to the area’s rich history as a meeting point for Indigenous peoples. 

The name —  pronounced ness-ta-way-ah — was revealed as the trail’s first leg — the surface at The Forks historic port — officially opened to the public Tuesday.

“Nestaweya is the original Cree name used for the site of The Forks, and the area we now call Winnipeg,” said Niigaan Sinclair, Indigenous curator at The Forks (and Free Press columnist). “Nestaweya literally means ‘three points,’ used here to mean that people came together to this site from three directions on the rivers.”

On the Red, Cree came to the meeting site from the north, while Ojibway travelled from the south. Lakota/Dakota/Nakota or Assiniboine came from the west on the Assiniboine.

“Three points is a name that tells how communities forged a life here for millennia,” said Sinclair.

“Manitobans come from all directions to The Forks, just as they’ve been doing for over 6,000 years,” said Sara Stasiuk, chief executive officer of The Forks North Portage. “Nestaweya River Trail honours the past of this meeting place as we skate into the future.”

The winter trail is one of the longest in Canada, usually measuring between seven and 10 kilometres.

Additional legs and warming huts will open as ice and weather conditions allow, though the full length is normally in use by the end of January.

The Forks website will post daily updates on the sections that are open and ice conditions.

The trail, which usually closes in March, is groomed daily and is also open to visitors to walk, cycle and cross-country ski along it.

Skates are available to rent inside the atrium at The Forks Market.

Visitors are asked to stick to the official trail as staff do not test the safety of other areas of ice on the rivers.

People have also been encouraged to follow the current COVID-19 public health guidelines, including social distancing and limits on gatherings and group sizes.

On-land trails and skating rinks under the canopy and in front of CN Stage had already opened for the season.

The Forks is still seeking discarded Christmas trees to line the trail. Trees without decorations or tinsel can be dropped off in the parking lot across from Union Station.

The Winnipeg Foundation will be the trail’s lead sponsor for the next five years.

“The newly named Nestaweya River Trail honours the Indigenous communities who have come together where rivers meet for thousands of years,” said Sky Bridges, foundation CEO. “We look forward to 2022, where we will share new exciting activities for this historic trail.”

Last season, it was called the Centennial River Trail, in honour of the foundation’s 100th anniversary.

In 2021, the trail was open for about seven weeks until a spell of mild temperatures forced it to close.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching